Alert generating system and method for a digital camera embedded in a mobile communication terminal

Abstract

An alerting mechanism is provided. The alerting mechanism comprises an alert producing unit in communication with a controller of a mobile communication terminal, wherein an alert is generated when a digital recording process is initiated. The alert can be an audio alert, a visual alert or both. In some embodiments, the digital recording process may not be initiated if the alert producing unit is inoperable. The alert is generated for the duration of the digital recording.

What is claim d is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a digital camera in a mobile communication terminal, the apparatus comprising: 
 a camera switch for instructing a camera operation;    a photographing state informing function unit for informing of a photographing state;    a camera function unit for converting an external image into a digital image data; and    a controller for checking whether the photographing state informing function unit is in a normal state when an operation of the camera switch is detected, and driving the photographing state informing function unit and the camera function unit if the photographing state informing function unit is in the normal state.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a memory for storing information to be provided to the photographing state informing function unit and the converted digital image data.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the photographic state informing function unit comprises: 
 an audio reproducing unit for reproducing at least one of a stored voice message and a sound.    
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 a light emitting diode for displaying a photographing state with a certain lighting pattern.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a flash for identifying a photographing state.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the camera switch includes an external key, an internal specific key or a soft key.  
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling a digital camera in a mobile communication terminal, the method comprising: 
 examining a photographing state informing function unit when a camera function is selected;    terminating a photographing state, if the photographing state informing function unit is not in a normal state; and    continuing with the photographing state, if the photographing state informing function unit is in a normal state.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the camera function selecting represents detecting operation of the camera switch or selecting of camera photographing menu.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the photographing state informing function unit comprises: 
 an audio reproducing unit for reproducing a sound;    a speaker for outputting the sound; and    a light emitting diode for emitting a lighting pattern.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the photographing state information function unit, further comprises a flash.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the examining step comprises: 
 determining a state of the speaker; and    determining a state of the light emitting diode.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the continuing step comprises at least one of producing a sound, emitting a light, and flashing a flash.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sound is prerecorded in a memory.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sound can be selected from a plurality of stored sounds.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a preset pattern is used for emitting the light.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pattern is selected from a plurality of light patterns.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the sound, light, and the flash continue to operate during a period of video recording performed by the digital camera.  
     
     
         18 . An alerting mechanism comprising an alert producing unit in communication with a controller of a mobile communication terminal, wherein an alert is generated when a digital recording process is initiated.  
     
     
         19 . The alerting mechanism of  claim 18 , wherein the alert is an audio alert.  
     
     
         20 . The alerting mechanism of  claim 18 , wherein the alert is a visual alert.  
     
     
         21 . The alerting mechanism of  claim 18 , wherein the digital recording process may not be initiated if the alert producing unit is inoperable.  
     
     
         22 . The alerting mechanism of  claim 18 , wherein the alert is generated for the duration of the digital recording.